Prince Edward: A Novel

In Prince Edward, a young boy in rural Virginia experiences the historic summer of 1959, which changes his life forever. He works with his black farmhand friend Burghardt, facing divided opinions within his family and the broader community. The book is a refreshing bildungsroman by bestselling author Dennis McFarland, portraying the social upheaval in the American South on the eve of the civil rights movement.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 332 pages
Publication date: 22 February 2022
Publisher: Open Road Media

The captivating coming-of-age tale of a young boy growing up in rural Virginia unfolds against the historic backdrop of the summer of 1959, when the county was embroiled in a fierce battle over the desegregation of schools as mandated by Brown v. Board of Education. Benjamin Rome, the ten-year-old son of a chicken farmer in one of the county's small townships, finds himself caught in the midst of this tumultuous era, struggling to comprehend the fervor surrounding him while simultaneously recognizing the inherent injustice of racial prejudice. Within his own family, opinions are sharply divided, and against this charged backdrop, Ben spends the summer working alongside his friend Burghardt, a black farmhand, under the watchful gaze of his grandfather. While the elders of Prince Edward County strive to close the schools, life continues to unfold, and Ben forms deeper connections with his pregnant sister, Lainie, and his troubled older brother, Al. Simultaneously, he begins to understand the painful and inherent limitations of his friendship with Burghardt.

Written with exquisite historical detail and evoking a sense of nostalgia, Prince Edward is a refreshing bildungsroman by bestselling author Dennis McFarland. It serves as a poignant portrayal of the social upheaval in the American South on the eve of the civil rights movement. Through the eyes of young Benjamin Rome, the reader witnesses the profound impact of these events on the lives of individuals and communities, shedding light on the complexities and challenges of a time of immense change and transformation.

ISBN-13: 9781504074193